1. Introduction to Literature Lesson Two: Shakespeare and Hart Love Margarette R. Connor

2. Outline Shakespeare biography and facts “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” Parody Moss Hart “Shall I Compare Thee?” “My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing Like the Sun”

3. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Born Stratford-upon-Avon in England f. John, glover, involved in local politics, member of the town council for years. –Bailiff or Mayor of the town, –wool dealer –involved in money lending. m. Mary Arden, d of a farmer from a nearby village. one of eight children, but only five grew to adulthood.

4. Schooling Most likely attended Stratford's 'petty' or junior school till age of seven Then on to the Grammar School. –During Shakepeare’s day, a grammar school's curriculum was geared to teaching pupils Latin, both spoken and written.

5. We can see the influence of this Latin education in some of Shakespeare's plays and poetry. For example, some of his ideas for plots and characters came from Ovid's tales, the plays of Terence and Plautus, Roman history. He would have also learned a modern language or two, literature and mathematics.

6. Shakespeare’s Missing Years Married Anne Hathaway, 26, in 1582 when he was 18. Susanna, born 1583. Twins Hamnet and Judith, born 1585. –Hamnet d 1596, age 11 Many guesses and legends about Shakespeare’s early life. –Schoolmaster? –Travelling actor?

7. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage The cottage nests in the idyllic setting of Shottery, which lies a mile west of Stratford. It belonged to the prosperous Hathaway family and was the pre-marital home of Shakespeare's wife, Anne. Although referred to as a cottage, it is actually a substantial, twelve-roomed, Elizabethan farmhouse. Externally the building with it's low thatched roof, timbered walls and lattice windows has changed very little since Anne Hathaway's time.

8. Arrived in London around 1586-7. Shakespeare’s reputation as a playwright was established by 1592. In 1594 he was sufficiently secure as a writer to be able to form a new theater company, Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

9. A Successful Gentleman 1596 father granted a coat-of-arms. On father's death 1601, he inherited the arms and the right to style himself a gentleman Great financial success through his writing. In 1597 he bought New Place, one of the largest houses in Stratford. Further property investments, including the purchase of 107 acres of land in 1602.

10. Shakespeare’s Property New Place in Chapel Street was William Shakespeare's final retirement home. He purchased the impressive building for £60 in 1597, whilst he was still spending most of his time working in London. He finally settled at New Place in 1610. Built by Hugh Clopton it was the second largest building in Stratford and was the only house made from brick.

11. Shakespeare’s Children Elder daughter, Susanna, married John Hall a Stratford physician, in 1607, and gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, the following year. Judith, married Thomas Quiney, a Stratford vintner (winemaker), in 1616.

12. The End Died Stratford, age 52, April 23, 1616, buried at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. His widow, Anne, died in 1623 and was buried beside him. Shakespeare's family line came to an end with the death of his grand-daughter Elizabeth in 1670.

13. Sonnet A special form for poetry, which originated with Italian poets. While there are some slight variations, a sonnet will have 14 lines, and in English, they are usually iambic pentameter. The sonnet is a rather old form, developed in Italy in the early 13 th century. One of the favorite forms of Dante and Petrarch, whose sequence of sonnets to a lady named Laura established the conventions of much Renaissance love poetry.

14. The History of the Sonnet in England First appears in England in the 16 th century in the poetry of Sir Thomas Wyatt. Also developed by the Earl of Surrey. Used by almost all of the major Elizabethan poets-- Spenser, Sidney and Shakespeare among them. Also popular with Milton in the 17 th century. After Milton, the form fell out of popularity, but it was revived by the Romantics.

15. Two basic forms of sonnet Italian or Petrarchan English or Shakespearean

16. Italian or Petrarchan Divides into two parts. The first, the octave, is typically rhymed abbaabba. The second, the sestet’s rhyme pattern varies, but it is usually some variation of cdecde. The octave usually poses a problem or a situation The sestet makes a comment on it or resolves it. An example of an Italian sonnet in English is Keat’s “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer.”

17. English or Shakespearean Usually divided into three quatrains and a couplet that typically rhyme abab cdcd efef gg. This structure is easier for English writers, as English has fewer rhyming words than Italian. Because of their four-part structure, English sonnets have more flexibility in where thematic breaks occur. The final couplet is often the most pronounced break, and emphasizes the theme of the poem.

18. Sonnet sequences A group of sonnets by one author that are linked by a theme, often love. The sequence then reflect the progress of the attachment or analyze the poet’s feelings. Shakespeare’s sonnets are part of a sequence

19. Parody “a work that ridicules a serious literary work or the characteristics of an author by treating the subject matter flippantly or by applying the style to an inappropriate, usually trivial, subject” (Beckson and Ganz, A Dictionary of Literary Terms).

20. Moss Hart (1904-1961) American playwright, mostly in musical theater, but in straight drama as well. Born in New York City. His family was so poor that he had to drop out of school when he was ten in order to go to work to help support them.

21. Hart’s Writing Wrote and produced his first play at 17, which failed terribly. After a few years working in regular jobs, he returned to theater, and was a Broadway success in the 1930s and 40s.

22. Famous works His most famous works are Once in a Lifetime (1930), which won the Pulitzer Prize, The Man Who Came to Dinner (1939), both with George S. Kaufman. Many of his works were also made into films, and he was a very popular writer.

23. Interpretation (1): My mistress: is “Not” the perfect type He plays with images; he talks about what his mistress is NOT like in her hair, lips, breast and breath. Breath—bad smell!  This is because Renaissance people brush their teeth with sugar, which causes “sweet breath” at the moment but later cavities and bad smell. Her footsteps—oh, heavy! (“g” alliteration)

24. My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.

25. Interpretation (2): The last couplet “yet” – a change of direction My love is as rare as any she belies with false compare  as rare as any (poem) that lies about her with false comparison. What is he saying? My mistress is a human being, but I still love her.

26. What is he doing in this poem? Shakespeare attacks the conventions of love convention; e.g. –snowy white skin – this will make her like a corpse –eyes like the sun.– that will burn! –Two globes for breasts! –Pearl teeth –High forehead. He is making her a real woman, but not an object. I love her as a real person, and that’s more important than the poetic conventions. This poem is both about love and poetry convention.

27. Shakespeare’s importance He writes about real human beings and put it in real language. His poems are not like those of Sir Philip Sidney.

28. Moss Hart’s Poem Funny; it will stay with Shakespeare’s poem. Enjoy them!!!